Mount Domett The history of a mountain

Mount Domett, Little Domett and Kohurau illuminated by moonlight, from Round Hill Road, Five Forks, North . Photograph by Gordon Barney, PixNZ.Com Limited (August 1999, approximately 11:00 p.m.)

Mount Domett, in North Otago, is situated at the southeastern end of the St. Marys Range, between Kurow to the northeast and to the south, and is approximately 55 kilometres northwest of . Although not the highest in coastal North Otago or in the range (Kohurau at 2009m/6592′ is the highest in both), Mount Domett at 1942m/6370′ and Little Domett at 1860m/6104′ are certainly the most prominent peaks of the skyline when viewed across the coastal North Otago landscape. Mount Domett and the other peaks of the St. Marys Range are often the objectives of tramping and mountaineering parties and with a variety of routes and terrain in both summer and winter conditions, this mountainous area has been well traversed on numerous occasions since the early twentieth century.

On Wednesday, 14 August 2002, Mount Domett had the spelling of its name officially changed from „Domet‟ to „Domett‟, correcting the long-standing spelling error of the name of Alfred Domett, in honour of whom it was named.

Alfred Domett was born at Camberwell Grove, Surrey, on 20 May 1811, the sixth child to Nathaniel Domett and Elizabeth Curling. Lawyer, journalist, administrator and poet, Domett became premier of from 6 August 1862 to 30 October 1863. He had already purchased land in the Nelson settlement in May 1842 before sailing out from England on the Sir Charles Forbes, arriving in August 1842. Having returned to England upon his retirement in 1871, his major literary work, ‘Ranolf and Amohia’, was published in in 1872. He died in Kensington, London on 2 November 1887.

This photograph of Alfred Domett (right) was probably taken in the 1870s, assuming that he was in his sixties at the time. Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa. Portrait of Alfred Domett. Reference Number: 1/4-003114; G. Photographer unknown.

There is a Mount Domett named after him in the Nelson region as well and it would appear to have been named by James Mackay in 1856. This peak rises to 1645m/5400′ and is situated in the Domett Range of the Tasman Mountains and there is also a Domett Creek in the same vicinity. Amohia Peak (1542m/5060′), also in the Domett Range, and Mount Ranolf (1660m/5445′), in the nearby Peel Range, were obviously named in commemoration of Domett and his literary epic as well. The first European sighting of the North Otago coast was made by Captain James Cook (at that time, the rank of first lieutenant) commanding the H.M.S. Endeavour as it sailed south off the coastline of South Canterbury and North Otago on Friday, 23 February 1770. Their position at noon of that day was recorded by Cook as latitude 44° 44' S. (about the latitude of Waimate). In his journal he later wrote; “At sunset the weather, clearing up, presented to our view a high peaked mountain bearing N.W. by N., and at the same time we saw land more distinctly than at any time before, extending from N. to S.W. by S., the inland parts of which appeared to be high and mountainous.” First impressions might suggest that perhaps this “high peaked mountain” they observed was Mount Domett. However, by sunset their position, although further south, would have placed them due west of Mount Domett at latitude 44° 52' S., so it is therefore unlikely that this reference is to the peak of Domett. Although it is the most prominent mountain in the area, the bearing given of N.W. by N. from their position, places this “high peaked mountain” (hardly an apt description of Mount Domett anyway) too far north for it to have been Mount Domett.

Mount Domett, in North Otago, was named by Walter Baldock Durrant Mantell. He was born on 11 March 1820 in Lewes, Sussex, England and died 7 September 1895 in and was the son of distinguished surgeon and geologist Dr. Gideon Mantell. journeyed to North Otago in an official capacity as „Commissioner of the extinguishment of native titles in the middle (South) island of New Zealand‟, having been appointed to this position in August 1848 by Governor . On Tuesday, 24 October 1848, Mantell and his party of nine, which included surveyor Alfred Wills, crossed the from the north bank and made their way to the kaika (village) of Maori chief Te Huruhuru at Te Puna a maru (north of Awamoko). Upon their arrival, however, they found the kaika to be vacant. The following day, Wednesday, 25 October 1848, Mantell recorded in his diary as being “very fine”. They spent the day waiting for Te Huruhuru who they were later to learn had taken ill with influenza at Waikouaiti. It is safe to assume that this is the day that Mantell named Mount Domett, as is evident by the titled and dated sketch he drew in some detail from Te Puna a maru (see Page 9). Little did he realise though that the local Maori referred to the mountain as „Te Huruhuru‟, in honour of the chief who would become great assistance to him as a local reference and historian. Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa. Walter Baldock Durrant Mantell, circa 1870. Reference Number: 35mm-00129-e; F. Photographer: William Henshaw Clarke.

This photograph of Walter Mantell (above) was taken about 1870, assuming he was approximately 50 years old at the time. When he named Mount Domett in October 1848, he was 28 years old.

Alfred Domett was well known to Mantell and at the time of Mantell‟s visit to North Otago, Domett held the position of „Colonial Secretary for New Munster‟ (). As premier of New Zealand from 1862 to 1863, Domett appointed Mantell as „Secretary for Crown Lands‟ and for a few weeks, „Postmaster General‟.

In his official capacity as „Commissioner of the extinguishment of native titles in the middle island of New Zealand‟, Mantell‟s primary task was to survey and allocate Maori reserves prior to European settlement. In this official capacity Commissioner Mantell obviously felt sufficiently empowered to assign European names to many of the local geographic features. As well as Mount Domett, he also named Cape Wanbrow and a number of other features that did not become established due to the acceptance of existing local names. For example, Mantell named Oamaru Creek - „Hemans‟, Waikoura Stream - „Keatsbourne‟, Awamoko - „Chatterton‟ and a prominent coastal outcrop at , „Point Sigourney‟. At one point he even wrote to the Colonial Secretary to have the Waitaki River renamed the „Molesworth‟ or the „Shakespeare‟. „Awamoa‟ is also one of Mantell‟s names. It is not true Maori, however, but something that he simply made up. The remainder of Mantell‟s North Otago survey took him as far south as Waikouaiti and he made a couple of journeys back and forth via and Otepopo (Herbert) during that October - November 1848 period.

In December 1852 Mantell returned once again to North Otago, this time as „Commissioner of Crown Lands for Otago‟, based in Dunedin. He explored the region more fully, from Cape Wanbrow and up the Waitaki River as far as Pukewhinau (Coal Stream, ). He wrote an extensive report on the area, detailing his opinions on the quality of pasture, building supplies and the availability of local fuel, namely wood and coal. He reported that there were 50 to 100 acres of forest (totara) growing on the foothills of Mount Domett at that time. He also made sketches and notes of the limestone cliff paintings of Takiroa near Duntroon and on Wednesday, 15 December 1852, he made his most detailed drawing of the mountains from his camp at Waikaura, east of the Otekaieke River.

It is unknown as to who may have first ascended Mount Domett. Considering the period of settlement that followed Mantell‟s exploration of 1852, it is most likely that one of the early landowners or a shepherd in their employment would have ascended the mountain for the purpose of exploring the grazing potential around it. Otekaieke Station was established on 11 September 1854, the first occupier being Samuel Helier Pike when he was given a lease dated 22 November 1854. Early the following year he sold out to John Parkin Taylor, who then sold to William Heywood Dansey in 1857 before Robert Campbell bought him out in 1871. Dansey was one of the early explorers who ventured through the pass that now bears his name. Danseys Pass was an important link between North Otago and Central Otago but Dansey doubted that it was he who discovered it. Regardless, the crossing of Danseys Pass on farming business is one thing, but to go out of your way to make an arduous ascent of Mount Domett, purely for the adventure of it, is quite another. But, since no record exists of any known first ascent of the mountain, it is impossible to bestow that honour upon any one person.

Exactly nine years after Walter Mantell named Mount Domett, chief surveyor of Otago, John Turnbull Thomson, began his reconnaissance survey of North Otago on Saturday, 24 October 1857. It appears unlikely that it was he who gave the name, „St. Marys Range‟, to the extensive system of mountains overlooking the Waitaki Valley, known to the local Maori as „Te Ake‟. In his field book notes on 28 October 1857 and the map of the area he drew in February 1858, Thomson referred to the range as the „Kurow Mountains‟. The „St. Marys‟ name could possibly be associated with St. Mary‟s Loch in the Yarrow Valley of the Scottish Borders region of Scotland.

The results of Thomson‟s survey from Big Hill, above Peebles, recorded the heights of the peaks as follows: “Mount Domet” 6230′ (Mount Domett is actually 6370′ high) “Little Domet” 5982′ (Little Domett is 6104′) “Te Kohurau” 6393′ (Kohurau is 6592′) “ Hill” 5129′ (Mount Kyeburn, as it is now known, is 5369′) “ Peak” 4796′ (Kakanui Peak, in the Kakanui Mountains, is 5012′) “Big Hill” 962′ (Big Hill is 1042′)

Mount Domett (1942m/6370′) Little Domett (1860m/6104′) Kohurau (2009m/6592′) Grayson Peak Cone ↓ ↓ ↓ (1563m/5129′) (1660m/5445′) ↓ ↓

↑ Big Hill (318m/1042′) ↑ Mount David Big Ben (1412m/4634′) (1370m/4495′)

The peaks of the St. Marys Range with Big Hill in front (the microwave tower on its summit, positioned exactly between Mount Domett and Little Domett), from Steward Road, Richmond, North Otago. Photograph by Gordon Barney, PixNZ.Com Limited (July 2000)

Considering the distance over which Thomson‟s observations were made, his results were reasonably accurate given that they were generally within two hundred feet of today‟s survey figures. It is, however, interesting to note that he spelt „Domet‟ with just the single „t‟. In some of his field book notes, Thomson actually referred to Mount Domett as „Domet S.‟ and Little Domett as „Domet N.‟. It is unknown as to what reference Thomson used for the names of the peaks, but since his survey was in an official capacity at that time, this is probably where the incorrect spelling of Domett‟s name originated. This error has been (Kohurau) Kurow Mtn maintained on official records for almost 145 Tehuruhuru years, even to the point where the mountain has 6393 been mispronounced and incorrectly spelt as „Domit‟ or „Dommet‟. This, too, is perhaps where the name „Little Domet‟ originated, Lit Domet Pk although Thomson‟s map indicates the name 5982 „Little Domet Peak‟ as having been given to it. A plan drawn in 1873 of Robert Campbell‟s Domet Mtn 6230 Otekaike* Estate (*as it was then spelt) is quite unique in that the names of the mountains are given as „Domett Peak‟ (6230′) and „Little Domett Peak‟ (5982′). Although the heights are those as surveyed by Thomson in 1857, Domett is at least spelt correctly with two „t‟s. Archives New Zealand, Dunedin. AG220/92/Recon.8. J.T. Thomson - North Eastern Districts 1857-1858.

This close-up of a section of John Turnbull Thomson‟s map, „Reconnaissance Survey of the North Eastern Districts of Otago Province‟ drawn in February 1858, vaguely shows Kohurau bracketed above the name „Kurow Mtn‟ even though Thomson referred to it in his field book as „Te Kohurau'. It is interesting to note that the „Te Huruhuru‟ name has also been applied to it rather than to Mount Domett.

In his notes, Thomson referred to the highest mountain of the range as „Te Kohurau‟. Mantell, as well, showed some confusion over this name, as in some of his sketches he labeled the mountain simply as „Kohurau‟ while in others it was written as „Te Kohurau‟. The name, „Te Kohurau‟, would certainly be correct if it were to be applied to the high mountain that rises to the southwest of the township of Kurow. However, Kurow Hill (593m/1946′), which rises directly above the township, was assigned a dual name of „Kurow Hill/Te Kohurau‟ as part of the Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998. It has been suggested that this was done in order to locate the „Te Kohurau‟ name as close as possible to the township of Kurow, to serve as a reminder of the correct Maori name for the area. The spelling of the name of the township of Kurow is a European mispronunciation and misspelling of „Kohurau‟, which can mean „many mists‟ or „shrouded in mist‟. Te Kohurau was the name of one of the crew of the great voyaging waka (canoe), Araiteuru, wrecked at /Matakaea about 700 years ago. Te Kohurau was also the name of the burial cave of the family of Uenuku, one of the great chiefs of Hawaiki, and it was from this cave that some of the most sacred emblems were brought to New Zealand in the waka, Takitimu, in about 1350. Regardless, the official name for the highest point on the St. Marys Range and in coastal North Otago remains as simply „Kohurau‟ and became official in 1948 after the Honorary Geographic Board of New Zealand approved the change of the name of the mountain from „Mount Kurow‟ in 1944.

Kohurau (2009m/6592′) Little Domett Mount Domett ↓ (1860m/6104′) (1942m/6370′) Trig „I‟ ↓ ↓ (1720m/5642′) ↓ Kurow Hill/Te Kohurau (593m/1946′) ↑ Big Ben (1370m/4495′)

This view from the hillside behind Hakataramea, looks over the Waitaki River and the township of Kurow to the high mountain of Kohurau rising up behind Kurow Hill/Te Kohurau with Little Domett and Mount Domett off to the far left. Photograph by Rodney Meiklejohn (Sunday, 25 August 2002, 1:27 p.m.) From February to June of 1878, surveyor George Grant completed a triangulation of the St. Marys Range making detailed observations that gave shape and form to the landscape with very accurate elevations. While establishing trig stations on the high points of the range, he built impressive rock cairn survey platforms on the summits of Little Domett, Cone and Mount David, and these structures remain today.

Details of his triangulation are as follows:

9 & 14 February 1878 - (trig station) „B‟, “Big Ben” (4466′), established with a 2″ iron tube set in rock.

15 February 1878 - „C‟, “Little Domet (Mtn.)” (6104′), established with a 2″ iron tube set in a rock cairn.

22 February 1878 - „L‟, “Kurow (Summit)” (6594′), established with a 2″ iron tube set in rock. (A wooden trig beacon was erected on the summit of Kohurau on 3 December 1981. It was repaired in March 1988 and finally removed - although the base of the beacon frame still remains - on 22 February 1995 - exactly 117 years after the establishment of the original trig station by George Grant - when a stainless steel pin was set in concrete.)

25 February 1878 - „M‟ (5186′) and „I‟ (5642′) (both unnamed), established with a 2″ iron tube set in rock. (Grant noted that, “No tube at „M‟, it having been removed to „I‟ as being better placed.”)

13 March 1878 - „F‟, “Cone (mountain)” (5129′), established with a 2″ iron tube set in a rock cairn.

May 1878 - „D‟, “Hill known as Mt. David” (4634′), established with a 2″ iron tube set in a rock cairn.

There is no evidence to suggest that George Grant actually climbed Mount Domett during his survey since there are Mount Domett summit no figures in his field book of (1942m/6370′) ↓ observations made from its summit and Little Domett summit (1860m/6104′) a trig station was never established on it, ↓ although his triangulation observations did establish its height as 6390′. Trig stations „M‟ (1581m/5186′) and „I‟ (1720m/5642′) are located on the crest of the section of the St. Marys Range that extends southeast from what is now locally referred to as „Awakino Pass‟, between Kohurau and Mount Domett. He was certainly quite close to Mount Domett at that time and even closer from Little Domett when he established the trig station on its summit.

Mount Domett from Trig „I‟ (1720m/5642′), established by George Grant on 25 February 1878. Photograph by Rodney Meiklejohn (Saturday, 4 September 1999, 11:21 a.m.)

Grant‟s survey also took him across the valleys and headwaters of the Awakino, Kurow, Otiake and Otekaieke rivers and his field book drawings show that even by then there were fences and tracks in existence. But, at least this survey is evidence that ascents were made of Big Ben, Little Domett, Kohurau, Cone and Mount David dating back as far as 1878. It is interesting to note that Grant referred to Kohurau as „Kurow Summit‟ and the range in which it stands as the „Kurow Range‟. So, even at that stage it would appear as though the name, „St. Marys Range‟, had not been established and that „Mount Kurow‟ was either in local use or about to be accepted as the official name for the mountain. Of course, „Little Domet‟ was spelt with just the single „t‟ and in his field book he referred to Mount Domett as „Big Domet‟. The incorrect spelling seemed to be well established by then and was certainly maintained by official maps and cadastral records („Domet Survey District‟) of the area since. Gold mining has also left its mark on the landscape in and around the peaks of the St. Marys Range. Many of the river valleys and creek beds were discovered to contain rich deposits of gold and the area was the scene of extensive mining activity in the latter part of the nineteenth century. The vast upland plateau east of the Ida Range, extending from Mount Buster on its western border across to Mount Kyeburn in the east and the St. Marys Range to the north, today shows the remains of these vast mining excavations. From 1867 to 1875, miner William Grayson spent over £2500 constructing a water race from below the ridge between Mount Domett and the peak that now bears his name. From an altitude of 1290m/4230′ the water race continued around Grayson Peak before turning out on to the plateau to the mining sites. Apparently, a few months of gold extraction were sufficient to regain his capital expenditure by at least three times as much; such was the yield of the area.

Evidence of gold prospecting in more isolated areas within the mountains exists in the form of a stone hut used by Chinese miners situated at 650m/2132′ in the upper Otekaieke River valley. Known today as „Chinaman‟s Hut‟, it was restored by local trampers in the 1970s and 1980s and continues to receive frequent use today.

Source of ↑ Grayson‟s Trig „P‟ (1467m/4813′) water race ↓ Green Gully ↓ ↓ ↓

Browns Creek ↓ Old gold workings

Second Gully Robertson Creek ↓ ↓

Mount Domett from the Mount Buster Road (4WD) at 1189m/3900′ on the „Mount Buster Plateau‟, Central Otago. Photograph by Rodney Meiklejohn (Saturday, 23 September 2000, 11:56 a.m.)

The incorrect spelling of „Domet‟, as it had been applied to the mountains, had been well known for quite some time. Domett Road and the Domett Downs homestead to the north-east of Mount Domett and Little Domett had always been clues as to an error in the spelling of the names of the two peaks.

On 28 June 2000 a name change proposal was submitted to the New Zealand Geographic Board by a private researcher from Wellington. The research of Mr. George Holmes of Thorndon, Wellington, provided irrefutable evidence that the mountain had been named in 1848 by Walter Mantell in honour of Alfred Domett and therefore a correction to the spelling of the name of the mountain was required. Research also revealed that the mountain had a local Maori name of „Te Huruhuru‟, in honour of the chief of Te Puna a maru.

The south face of Mount Domett from just east of Mount Buster, on the Mount Buster Road. Photograph by Rodney Meiklejohn (Saturday, 23 September 2000, 1:30 p.m.) It is the policy of the New Zealand Geographic Board to reinstate original Maori place names where appropriate. However, in 1972, at the request of the Historic Places Trust, the name „Te Huruhuru‟ was assigned to a 1591m/5220′ peak (formerly Trig „K‟) at the northern end of The Hunters Hills (northwest of Waimate and west of Timaru). Therefore, after objections to the „duplicate‟ dual name change proposal of „Te This close-up of a section of the 1860s „Map of the Province of Canterbury, Huruhuru/Mount Domett‟ were submitted, the New Zealand‟ by Sir Julius von Haast, shows the mountain as „Mt. Domett dual name was rejected so as to avoid any Tehuruhuru‟, with an elevation given of 6200′. confusion that may arise with the existing peak in The Hunters Hills. As a result, the intention was resubmitted by the New Zealand Geographic Board to change the name of the mountain by simply making a correction to the spelling mistake of Domett‟s name by adding the extra „t‟. Therefore, „Mount Domett‟ became the official name of the mountain as a result of the decision of the Geographic Board at the meeting of 14 August 2002. „Little Domett‟ had already been made official as a result of the decision of the Board at the meeting of 14 September 2001.

Mount Domett, Grayson Peak (front) and Little Domett (right) from Mount Kyeburn. Photograph by Rodney Meiklejohn (Saturday, 4 August 2001, approximately 3:30 p.m.)

Mount Domett summit (1942m/6370′) ↓

Mount Kyeburn (1636m/5369 ′) Grayson Peak ↓ (1661m/5450′) ↓ Trig „C‟ Little Domett summit (1860m/6104′)

Mount Domett from the rock cairn trig station on the summit of Little Domett, established by surveyor George Grant on 15 February 1878. Photograph by Rodney Meiklejohn (Wednesday, 21 August 2002, 1:27 p.m.)

Grayson Mount Domett Little Domett Mount Kyeburn Mount Kohurau Peak ↓ ↓ Mount Bitterness (at back) Cone David ↓ ↓ Big Ben ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓

The St. Marys Range from near the confluence of the Awamoko Stream and the Waitaki River, near the site of chief Te Huruhuru‟s kaika, Te Puna a maru, which was situated just east of the confluence. Photograph by Rodney Meiklejohn (Friday, 7 June 2002, 10:21 a.m.)

Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa. Walter Baldock Durrant Mantell 1820-1895. Reference Number: E-333-048/049. Mt Domett Waitaki. Wed[nesda]y. Oct[ober] 25 [1848].

Mantell‟s sketch of Wednesday, 25 October 1848, from Te Huruhuru‟s kaika at Te Puna a maru (north of Awamoko), looks west up the Waitaki River valley to the peaks of the St. Marys Range in the distance. Note the handwritten, “Mt. Domett”, above the peaks of Mount Domett and Little Domett at

the top of the sketch. This would suggest that Mantell was probably referring to both peaks as a single mountain, which he named, „Domett‟.

Mount Domett Little Domett Big Ben Kohurau ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ Mount Domett Little Domett ↓ ↓ Kohurau Big Ben ↓ ↓

Mount Domett, Little Domett and Kohurau from near the location of Mantell‟s camp at Waikaura, exactly 150 years later. Photograph by Rodney Meiklejohn (Sunday, 15 December 2002, 10:55 a.m.)

Mantell‟s most detailed drawing of the mountains (although with somewhat exaggerated elevation) was drawn on Wednesday, 15 December 1852, from his camp at Waikaura, east of the Otekaieke River.

It features Mount Domett partially obscured behind Little Domett and coastal North Otago‟s highest mountain, Kohurau, off to the right.

Although Mantell has written, “Mt. Domett, looking south…”, the direction is actually west-southwest.

Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa. Walter Baldock Durrant Mantell (1820 -1895). Reference Number: E-332-028/029. Mt Domett looking south. 15 Dec 1852. Grass plain in foreground.

References:

1. Beattie, Herries. „Maori Place Names of Otago‟, 1944.

2. Beattie, Herries. „Otago Place Names as bestowed by the Pakeha and jotted down by…‟, 1948.

3. McDonald, K.C. „History of North Otago‟, 1940.

4. Roberts, W.H. Sherwood. „The Nomenclature of North Otago and other interesting information‟, 1908.

5. Stevenson, G.B. „Maori and Pakeha in North Otago‟, 1947.

6. Land Information New Zealand, Toitu Te Whenua, Dunedin. Field Book No. 47, ‘Reconnaissance, Northern & Interior.’ (of Otago Province). J. T. Thomson, chief surveyor. Field Book No. 344, „Contract 94 - Triangulation of Kurow Domet & pt. Kyeburn Dists’. G. Grant, surveyor.

7. Land Information New Zealand, Toitu Te Whenua, Geodetic database. URL: http://www.linz.govt.nz/rcs/linz/pub/web/root/core/SurveySystem/GeodeticInfo/geodeticdatabase/index.jsp

8. Graham, Jeanine. „Domett, Alfred 1811-1887‟. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. URL: http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/

9. Sorrenson, M.P.K. 'Mantell, Walter Baldock Durrant 1820-1895'. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. URL: http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/

Sincere thanks go to Mrs. Wendy Shaw, Secretary for the New Zealand Geographic Board, Nga Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa, for her invaluable assistance and co-operation, and keeping me well informed of developments.

Mr. George Holmes of Thorndon, Wellington, who “beat me to it” with his research and name change submission. His research and assistance has been much appreciated.

Mr. Ray McLennan, Quality Control Co-ordinator - Survey, Land Information New Zealand, Toitu Te Whenua, Dunedin, for allowing me access to the survey records, including the field books of John Turnbull Thomson and George Grant.

Mr. Gordon Barney, PixNZ.com Limited (http://www.pixnz.com), for the use of his wonderful photographs of Mount Domett.

Ms. Karen Beker, Te Runanga o Waihao Archives, Morven, for her kind assistance with local Maori history, and for research information obtained from the Waimate Historical Society Archives.

And finally, to all the local landowners and their families in and around the peaks of the St. Marys Range; especially to the McCones of Domett Downs, the Bayleys of Otekaieke Station and the Plunketts of Awakino Station. Thank you all for your generous co-operation over the years, in allowing those among us who truly appreciate this great high country, to wander freely across it and enjoy the majestic panoramas from the tops of the high peaks. It really is a privilege.

Rodney Meiklejohn Belleknowes, Dunedin. e-mail: [email protected]

Sunday, 20 April 2003. Trig „I‟ (1720m/5642′) (Updated: Wednesday, 30 July 2014) „Mount Buster Plateau‟ ↓ (1200m/3937′) ↓

The view west from the summit of Mount Domett, and the cairn built by Rodney Meiklejohn and Greg Wisnesky on this day - Saturday, 25 November 2000. Photograph by Greg Wisnesky (2:41 p.m.)